Off-duty Cops In Chase Enter Not-guilty Pleas

October 13, 1999

COOK COUNTY — The five current and former Cook County sheriff's police officers indicted earlier this month in connection with a June traffic altercation, in which they allegedly chased a couple through the south suburbs and shot at their vehicle, pleaded not guilty Tuesday.

The five entered their plea before Cook County Criminal Court Judge Kenneth J. Wadas. Prosecutors said they had turned over to defense attorneys tapes of an emergency phone call placed by one of the officers to police during the chase. The tapes allegedly reveal one of the men yelling phrases such as "kill 'em," during the chase.

The officers, who all are white, were off-duty and in a private vehicle at the time of the incident, prosecutors said. The couple involved, Corey Simmons, 23, of Hazel Crest and his passenger, Dominique Mapp, 20, of Chicago, are African-Americans.